Teaching Children to Be Sensitive
Children come in all shapes, sizes, personalities and abilities. These differences in our children should be both accepted and celebrated, but all too often, children are laughed at or made fun of if they vary from the norm. You can help teach your child to respect others and be sensitive to peers with differences by doing the following:
- Choose language that focuses on individuals, not their disabilities. For example, avoid saying “disabled child”; instead, say: ”child who is disabled.” That subtle word choice places emphasis on the person, not on what makes him different from others.
- Don’t make jokes about others, even if it’s not malicious. Children will learn that it's OK to make fun of someone even if they're just “kidding.” The kidding is often still hurtful to the target.
- Teach children to handle their anger without lashing out at others. If they do hurt someone’s feelings, show them how to apologize and better handle the situation next time.
- Show kids that they don’t have to be afraid of people who are different, whether it’s their skin color or the fact that they use a wheelchair. We’re all people just the same, and no one deserves less than another.
- Emphasize “personal best.” Life isn’t a competition, but with all the emphasis on achievement in school and sports, kids can pretty easily get labeled by their ability. Explain to your child that not everyone was given the same gifts and talents, but doing his best is what’s most important.
- Teach empathy. Laughter at someone else’s expense is always hurtful, and probably, at one time or another, we’ve all been on the receiving end of it. Ask your child to put himself in that other child’s position and really try to understand what it feels like to be made fun of. He’l l soon discover it’s just no fun at all.
Reviewed by: Patrick S. Pasquariello Jr., MD
Date: February 2012
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